My Goblin System : Levelling up with my SSS Class Devouring skill

"Then we pursue them! Cut them off before they can regroup!"

"We do nothing until Commander Elric gives deployment orders," Seraphelle said calmly from where she knelt in prayer. "We serve the Light, but we also respect the military chain of command. Elric is the commanding officer of this campaign."

"His pride is keeping us on the sidelines while soldiers die!" Gattychan’s frustration was evident. "Every minute we sit here is another minute human fighters are bleeding on those walls."

Rindelle spoke quietly from where she methodically checked her arrows. "The demon warriors withdrew before we deployed. That suggests they anticipated our intervention and chose to retreat rather than face us. We’ve already influenced the battle without firing a shot."

"That’s not combat, that’s psychological warfare," Gattychan argued. "I was summoned to fight demons, not to be a scarecrow that frightens them into retreating."

Mikazelle continued observing the battlefield through her spatial perception, her eyes unfocused as she tracked movements across dimensions. "The tactical situation is interesting. Settlement defenders are conducting fighting withdrawal across all three wall sectors. Human forces are pursuing but taking casualties from rearguard actions. The battle is transitioning from siege warfare to mobile combat."

"Then we should be in it," Gattychan insisted.

"Why?" Seraphelle asked simply. "To prove our worth? To demonstrate our power? Or because the battle genuinely requires our intervention to prevent catastrophic losses?"

The question hung in the air.

Gattychan struggled to answer honestly. "Because I was summoned to fight evil. That settlement down there is allied with demons. Demon warriors fought on those walls. My Villain’s Bane ability exists specifically to counter supernatural evil. And I’m sitting in a tent doing nothing while the battle happens without me."

"Your Villain’s Bane affected the battle," Rindelle pointed out. "The demons felt your presence preparing to deploy and withdrew rather than fight you. That’s effective use of your ability without entering combat."

"It’s cowardice! They ran because they feared me—"

"Tactical wisdom," Mikazelle corrected. "They recognized an unfavorable engagement and withdrew to fight another day on better terms. That’s not cowardice, it’s sound military judgment. Something we should perhaps emulate rather than criticizing."

Gattychan turned on her. "You think I’m being foolish."

"I think you’re eager for combat in a way that might compromise tactical judgment," Mikazelle said bluntly. "You want to fight. You need to prove your worth as a hero. And that desire is making you question legitimate military decisions by an experienced commander."

"Commander Elric’s decisions are based on pride—"

"Perhaps. But they’re also based on forty years of military experience fighting demons and demon lords. What’s your experience, Gattychan? Six months since being summoned? Three combat deployments against minor demonic incursions?" Mikazelle’s voice wasn’t cruel, just factual. "You’re powerful. Your abilities are devastating. But you’re not a military commander, and this campaign has strategic dimensions beyond simple combat effectiveness."

Gattychan’s jaw tightened. "I’m going to speak with him."

"That’s probably not wise—" Mikazelle began.

"I don’t care. I’m not sitting here while soldiers die for someone’s pride."

He strode out toward Elric’s command tent.

The remaining three heroes exchanged looks.

"Should we stop him?" Rindelle asked.

"No," Seraphelle said calmly. "Let him learn. Sometimes the lesson is more valuable than the outcome."

Mikazelle returned her attention to observing the battlefield. "The settlement defenders are reaching Third Line. Human forces are pursuing but slowing. Elric is probably consolidating Second Line as a forward base rather than over-extending into pursuit." She paused. "Tactically sound. The settlement’s fighting withdrawal was well-executed—they preserved their army while losing only the position. Elric won the battle but at significant cost."

"Casualties?" Seraphelle asked.

"Human side: approximately three hundred twenty dead, four hundred sixty wounded. Settlement side: approximately one hundred twenty dead, one hundred ten wounded."

"The settlement has better casualty exchange ratios," Rindelle observed.

"Yes, but worse absolute numbers relative to force size. They’ve lost nearly a quarter of their original force. Humans have lost about twelve percent." Mikazelle traced spatial geometries with her fingers, calculating. "At current attrition rates, the settlement will be annihilated before the human army is significantly depleted. The mathematics favor Elric."

"Unless reinforcements arrive," Seraphelle noted. "Loki’s demon lord territory is relatively close. If he sends support..."

"Then the strategic situation changes completely. But that’s speculation. Based on current forces, Elric is winning this war." Mikazelle’s spatial perception shifted focus. "Interesting. The settlement is fortifying Third Line frantically. They know it’s weaker than Second Line was. They’re trying to compensate with rapid construction."

"Will it work?"

"Probably not. Third Line isn’t complete. They don’t have time to finish it properly before Elric attacks tomorrow. It’ll hold for a while—maybe six hours against conventional assault. But if Elric commits his full army with our support from the start..." Mikazelle calculated possibilities across dimensional probabilities. "Third Line falls within two hours."

"Should we tell Gattychan that?" Rindelle asked.

"He’ll find out when Elric briefs us on tomorrow’s assault plan," Seraphelle said. "For now, let him have his confrontation. He needs to understand the complexity of military command—that it’s not just about fighting ability, but politics, logistics, morale, and long-term strategic positioning."

Gattychan entered Elric’s command tent without announcement, pushing past sentries who tried to stop him.

Elric looked up from tactical maps, expression shifting from surprise to controlled irritation.

" Gattychan. I don’t recall summoning you."

"Demon warriors are on the battlefield. You’ve confirmed demonic forces. Yet you’re keeping us on standby. I want to understand why." Gattychan’s voice carried barely restrained frustration.

Elric set down his plotting tools deliberately, giving himself time to choose his response. "Because I believe regular human forces can handle fifty demon warriors without requiring intervention from otherworldly champions."

"Can handle, or you want to prove they can handle?" Gattychan’s voice carried challenge. "There’s a difference."

"Perhaps. But yes, part of this is proving that the Church’s conventional military forces are capable of operating independently against demonic opposition."

Gattychan’s jaw tightened. "Soldiers are dying on those walls while you play political games."

"This isn’t politics—"